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Some 24,000 offenders are being electronically monitored at any one time, the Ministry of Justice says

Criminals serving community sentences could face curfews of up to 16 hours a day under new government proposals.

Currently offenders in England and Wales cannot be confined to their homes for more than 12 hours a day.

The proposals would also extend the period over which a curfew could be imposed from six months to a year and allow their hours to be varied.

Minister for Prisons and Probation Crispin Blunt said the plans would keep offenders off the street for longer.

"These tougher curfew conditions will keep offenders off the street for longer, stop them socialising in the evenings and keep them away from situations that could land them in trouble again," Mr Blunt said in a statement.